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I argue that speech and language evolved through a series of stages individually designed to break through successive glass ceilings on group size. Language was simply the last of these (and hence evolved late in hominin evolution), but its precursors (laughter and singing) each played a crucial role in preparing the way for speech production.

Original publication

DOI

10.3758/s13423-016-1122-6

Type

Journal article

Journal

Psychon Bull Rev

Publication Date

02/2017

Volume

24

Pages

209 - 212

Keywords

Grooming, Language, Laughter, Singing, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Hominidae, Humans, Language, Laughter, Singing